Dartmouth Grange attracts local families for food, fun, and entertainment

A Penny sale, a country store full of baked goods, clam cakes, fiddlers, games, pie-eating contests, and a magician... there were not many things that the annual Dartmouth Grange Fair didn't offer.

For many Dartmouth families, the annual two-day event, held in Russells Mills Village in and around the Grange Hall on Fisher Road on Friday and Saturday, is a yearly tradition.

"We are a military family and we moved here about a year and a half ago," Dartmouth resident Patty Loranger said. "Last year we saw a little sign and came to the fair, and we are back again this year."

The Lorangers brought their two young children, Olivia and Raymond, to the fair Friday evening to play carnival games and win prizes. The fair had games such as darts and ring toss, as well as crafts and face painting.

The entertainment at the fair drew in a large crowd on Friday night, with Tom Hank & Friends fiddling, Magician Skip Daniels, and a Pie-Eating Contest, which drew seven young boys for a competition to see who could eat the most pie – complete with chanting families and plenty of smartphone videos.

Jacob Smith walked away with a shiny blue ribbon for being the first person to finish his pie, while the other six boys walked away with white participation ribbons. Smith said he was very excited to win and was surprised at how fast he was able to eat his slice of pie.

Pies were not the only sweets being offered at the fair. Volunteer Carol Wood was selling an assortment of baked goods such as brownies, cookies, whoopee pies and even pickles at a wooden stand called The Country Store, sourced from the Boston Baking Company.

"I volunteer every year," Wood said. "It's a great fair."

Taking orders at the kitchen, volunteer Carol Fish handed a customer a tray of clam cakes and fries.

"He makes the clam cakes," Fish said pointing at volunteer Rick Brown in the back of the kitchen.

"I've been volunteering at this for about 35 years," Fish said. "A lot of people from the area come."

Fish said that all the money raised goes to the Grange. The money made at the Rural Community Fair goes towards helping the community, for things like community service, scholarships, and programs and projects for the youth.

The fair continues on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Visit dartmouthgrange.org for a complete schedule of events.

Pie-Eating Contest

Seven boys raced to see who could eat a slice of pie the fastest. (Video by: Mary Macedo)